Nets fire Johnson after 14-14 start | The Salt Lake Tribune

NBA notes • Coach booted only 24 days after earning Eastern Conference award.

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Avery Johnson never saw it coming. But just 24 days after he was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for November, Johnson was fired by the Brooklyn Nets. Assistant P.J. Carlisemo was named interim head coach, and will retain the rest of Johnson's staff. A search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

"I just got a sense, as I told Avery this morning, that he just wasn't reaching them anymore," general manager Billy King said Thursday afternoon, adding that ownership the had final say.

"The Nets' ownership would like to express thanks to Avery for his efforts and to wish him every success in the future," owner Mikhail Prokhorov said.

The Nets (14-14) won 11 of their first 15 games en route to their best start in franchise history, but have gone just 3-10 in December, which prompted Brooklyn's brass to make a change. One NBA coaching source told ESPN.com the Nets will start a broad search for Johnson's replacement, including a call to gauge Phil Jackson's interest.

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